Save me I am a fool.
I adored this series from the beginning to the end. I was hyped up for it every step of the way and maybe one day I will step back and reanalyze it and break it down and take away the magic of it.
Today is not that day.
Below you will have my series review for a series that has captured my heart and enraptured my soul. I know that not how many will feel, and I understand that not many will care.
However, this was the reason I made my blog. For book series like this.
Customary warning: This is a reminder that these are my personal opinions. My thoughts and feelings are not your thoughts and feelings. I may not always be the target audience for a book; sometimes I am. If I do not like a book, that doesn’t mean you’ll dislike it. If I love a book or simply like a book, you may hate it. Take everything I say with this knowledge. If it sounds interesting to you despite what I’ve said, then go ahead and read it. You’ll only know you like something if you read it yourself.
That being said… Spoilers Ahead
The Folk of the Air by Holly Black
Reviews
Why You Should Read:
Now this is always the curious question. Why should you read? The Folk of the Air series, is easy to read and a fun journey. It is quotable, and heart breaking. It is political, less magic, but fully fantasy. You should read the series because you want to be enthralled, and to fall for characters who have no business being so confident. This book series is filled with twists and turns that I appreciated, as well as development that solidifies characters by taking their base states and making them stronger. Cardan is always chaotic, but throughout the series his chaos becomes his strength. Jude is always the strongest in the room, and through the series you watch her use that and grow with it. Things that are weaknesses and flaws are addressed and taken to grow from, and it is for that reason that I recommend.
Plus I just really love the series.
What I Liked:
Jude Durate the High Queen of Elfhame; I loved Jude from the moment I read her. She was one of those characters, however, that I fell for more as we went further. Jude made me feel things, as she tried to save her family. Also, her love with Cardan is a very complicated. Jude is strong, but Jude is also kind. I wish I could read more from her.
Cardan Greenbrair the High King of Elfhame; I love him. I hated him. He was horrible, and endearing all at the same time. Cardan is someone I would die for, and I feel as if that is probably why he and Jude work so well. He is a great counter to her, but powerful in his own right. He knows of Jude’s ability and thinks so highly of her, that he expects her to be steps ahead of him. He is a riddler and loves her in the way that only he could. He is my High King, and I’ll always support him.
Secondary Characters
Tayrn; I did hate her at points, but I always believed in her and believed in the fact that I didn’t think she was going to be horrible. She did betray Jude, but it was because she wanted to fit in, and I accept her. She fell in love, see what Jude did? I’ll support her.
Vivi; She was an interesting Fae who just wanted to fit in in the human world. A sort of contrast to Tayrn and Jude. I know her upbringing was rough, and I feel for her. I’m happy that she has a chance at a happy ending.
Heather; I know she lost her memories, and for what it’s worth I did like her. I hope that she and Vivi can be happy in the end.
The Roach; Ah, how wonderful of a character. He was entertaining to read and to watch. I’m happy he survived.
The Ghost; Please be happy. I know that all he wanted was to be happy. I really hope that he is happy. I know that he’s looking Tayrn’s way, and I hope, hope, hope, that he can be happier after giving up his name and destroying so much in the world.
The Bomb; She was lovely, charming, witty, and everything I adore in a minor character.
Locke; Out of all the characters who I “hated,” I never forgave him for the things he did to Cardan, Jude, and Tayrn. I’m happy his wife killed him. Truly.
Nicasia; For what it’s worth, I did like her. She was a great antagonist in the love between Jude and Cardan, but I didn’t much so care for her. I didn’t hate her either. She simply existed, and that’s okay.
Madoc; As a villain, his motive and procedures were well thought out and explained. I find this lovely. He is a general, who has morals that are not akin to that of humans and he has a very specific way of how he thinks the courts should rule. I respect that and the war that he fought. Was he evil? Yes. Was his evil explained? Yes. For that I think he was a great villain.
Magic; Super soft as always, and to that I am totally cool. As for the rules of what Fae can and can not do, I always expect that in Holly Black books.
Use of the other courts; I liked seeing the other book series/standalones come into play in this book, as well as details from those books used in this one (Like the sword that can cut anything). I always like a good tie in.
What it is to be a King; When Cardan decided to break the crown and accept what came, is when he became a true King. Cardan was always a great king. He never wanted the crown. He did what was best for his people. He listened to those that knew best. He was striving for what was best for his reign and breaking his crown solidified that. He proved that Elfhame chose him, and accepted him, and as did his people. I liked watching this change happen to Cardan, in the subtlest of ways.
The Plot Progressions; The Cruel Prince did not shock me as much as The Queen of Nothing and The Wicked King. In the latter two, I was flipped and spun around. At least in The Cruel Prince, I knew where it planned to go. I always like Holly Black’s writing, especially with the Folk, and the way this story was written, is predictable in retrospect but fun to read in the moment.
Writing Style; I really love reading all of Holly Black’s works from the way that she writes. If anything, this is one of my favorite things about her. It is succinct but flowery and filled with passion, all at the same time
What I Would Have Liked or Changed:
Jude and Cardan; I would have liked a bit more development between them to have them fall in love so heavily, but I do not think that what we got was too little. I just want more because I love them and I want to read about them forever. Thanks.
Time Taken To Read
8hr 44min
Rating: 5/5
“I am coming unraveled. I am coming undone.” – Jude, Cruel Prince
“By you, I am forever undone.” – Cardan, Queen of Nothing
Marlena Marie 
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